IBM Research and Swiss solar technology company Airlight Energy just unveiled a cutting-edge solar system that resembles a 10-meter-high sunflower! The High Concentration PhotoVoltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system can concentrate the sun’s radiation 2,000 times and convert 80 percent of it into useful energy, generating up to 12 kilowatts of electrical power and 20 kilowatts of heat on a sunny day—enough to power several average homes. Oh, and it can also produce clean, fresh water as a result of the process used to cool the solar cells!

As populations increase and urbanization intensifies, our water and ecosystems are at risk. Today IBM announced a project that will introduce first-in-Canada technology that uses big data to help protect our drinking water, predict floods and safeguard fragile ecosystems. Built in collaboration with the Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC), the new data management platform is installed along the Grand River, the largest river in southern Ontario, and will collect and analyze data every 15 minutes from 120 sensors over 80 square kilometers.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/infographic-ibm-helps-safeguard-water-quality-and-fragile-ecosystems-along-ontarios-grand-river/feed/1IBM Solar Collector Harnesses the Power of 2,000 Sunshttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-solar-collector-concentrates-light-with-the-power-of-2000-suns/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-solar-collector-concentrates-light-with-the-power-of-2000-suns/#commentsTue, 23 Apr 2013 21:54:38 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=504628A team of IBM researchers is working on a solar concentrating dish that will be able to collect 80% of incoming sunlight and convert it to useful energy. The High Concentration Photovoltaic Thermal system will be able to concentrate the power of 2,000 suns]]>

A team of IBM researchers is working on a solar concentrating dish that will be able to collect 80% of incoming sunlight and convert it to useful energy. The High Concentration Photovoltaic Thermal system will be able to concentrate the power of 2,000 suns while delivering fresh water and cool air wherever it is built. As an added bonus, IBM states that the system would be just one third the cost third of current comparable technologies.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-solar-collector-concentrates-light-with-the-power-of-2000-suns/feed/3IBM and DARPA’s Ultra-High-Speed Digital Data Link Sets Energy Efficiency Recordhttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-and-darpa-develop-ultra-high-speed-power-efficient-digital-data-link/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-and-darpa-develop-ultra-high-speed-power-efficient-digital-data-link/#commentsWed, 13 Mar 2013 21:30:36 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=490926The supercomputers of the future will be capable of amazing feats such as modeling global climate scenarios, running molecular-level simulations of cells, and designing nanostructures. In order to for these "exascale computers" to operate, they will need to]]>

The supercomputers of the future will be capable of amazing feats such as modeling global climate scenarios, running molecular-level simulations of cells, and designing nanostructures. In order to for these “exascale computers” to operate, they will need to be able to run an enormous amount of data quickly while keeping power consumption under control. Scientists at IBM in conjunction with DARPA have created an ultra-high-speed prototype optical link that sets a new energy efficiency record. The researchers are set to describe their invention at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC) being held in Anaheim, CA from March 17-21.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-and-darpa-develop-ultra-high-speed-power-efficient-digital-data-link/feed/1IBM’s Drew Clark on the Future of Smart Metershttp://inhabitat.com/energy-101-interview-ibms-drew-clark-on-future-smart-meters/
http://inhabitat.com/energy-101-interview-ibms-drew-clark-on-future-smart-meters/#commentsThu, 10 Jan 2013 05:00:32 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=29072In our last Energy 101 column, we looked at some of the home energy monitoring devices currently available and explored the ways that they can help us live more efficient, eco-conscious lives. But with smart grid technologies rapidly approaching, a new group]]>

In our last Energy 101 column, we looked at some of the home energy monitoring devices currently available and explored the ways that they can help us live more efficient, eco-conscious lives. But with smart grid technologies rapidly approaching, a new group of energy-tracking devices is emerging. We had the chance to speak with Drew Clark, Director of Strategy for IBM’s Venture Capital Group, about what the future holds for smart meter technology.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/energy-101-interview-ibms-drew-clark-on-future-smart-meters/feed/1University Of Texas to Use Carbon Nanotubes to Create Super-Strong Artificial Muscleshttp://inhabitat.com/university-of-texas-to-use-carbon-nanotubes-to-create-super-strong-artificial-muscles/
http://inhabitat.com/university-of-texas-to-use-carbon-nanotubes-to-create-super-strong-artificial-muscles/#commentsTue, 20 Nov 2012 15:43:12 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=459697Photo from Shutterstock
Carbon nanotubes are a ground-breaking material that have been proposed for use in everything from solar paint to the construction of space elevators. Now the University of Texas in Dallas has announced that they plan to use the]]>Photo from Shutterstock

]]>http://inhabitat.com/university-of-texas-to-use-carbon-nanotubes-to-create-super-strong-artificial-muscles/feed/0Scientists Developing Next-Gen Carbon Nanotube Microchipshttp://inhabitat.com/scientists-developing-next-gen-carbon-nanotube-microchips/
http://inhabitat.com/scientists-developing-next-gen-carbon-nanotube-microchips/#commentsMon, 29 Oct 2012 20:57:35 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=453564Carbon nanotube image from Shutterstock
Carbon nanotubes are heralded as a next-gen wonder material capable of creating everything from space elevators to better batteries, and now a team of scientists is working on creating high-performance computer]]>Carbon nanotube image from Shutterstock

Carbon nanotubes are heralded as a next-gen wonder material capable of creating everything from space elevators to better batteries, and now a team of scientists is working on creating high-performance computer chips using the microscopic fibers. The team believes that the carbon nanotubes’ electronic properties could yield performance superior to current silicon-based devices.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/scientists-developing-next-gen-carbon-nanotube-microchips/feed/1IBM Creates The World’s Smallest Storage Device (And It’s 12 Atoms In Size!)http://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-the-worlds-smallest-storage-device-and-its-12-atoms-in-size/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-the-worlds-smallest-storage-device-and-its-12-atoms-in-size/#commentsTue, 17 Jan 2012 23:52:46 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=345033Many of us use memory sticks and portable hard drives to carry data around with us - they have become a part of every day life and, like all devices, they're getting smaller and smaller. However researchers at IBM have pushed the envelope and managed to store]]>

Many of us use memory sticks and portable hard drives to carry data around with us – they have become a part of every day life and, like all devices, they’re getting smaller and smaller. However researchers at IBM have pushed the envelope and managed to store and retrieve digital data from the world’s smallest storage device – an array that is a mere 12 atoms in size! The breakthrough points the way to a new class of nanomaterials for next-gen memory chips and disk drives that will use less power and have larger capacities.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-the-worlds-smallest-storage-device-and-its-12-atoms-in-size/feed/0IBM’s Traffic Lights Can Remotely Halt Your Car Enginehttp://inhabitat.com/ibms-traffic-lights-can-remotely-halt-your-car-engine/
http://inhabitat.com/ibms-traffic-lights-can-remotely-halt-your-car-engine/#commentsTue, 25 May 2010 13:00:52 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=120395Thinking about zipping through that red light? Well, you won't physically be able to if IBM has anything to say about it. The technology giant's recent patent application for "A System and Method for Controlling Vehicle Engine Running State at Busy Intersections]]>

Thinking about zipping through that red light? Well, you won’t physically be able to if IBM has anything to say about it. The technology giant’s recent patent application for “A System and Method for Controlling Vehicle Engine Running State at Busy Intersections for Increased Fuel Consumption Efficiency” prevents cars from running red lights by–get this–remotely stopping vehicle engines.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibms-traffic-lights-can-remotely-halt-your-car-engine/feed/6Game Teaches City Planners to Tackle Water, Energy Problemshttp://inhabitat.com/game-teaches-city-planners-to-tackle-water-energy-problems/
http://inhabitat.com/game-teaches-city-planners-to-tackle-water-energy-problems/#commentsThu, 06 May 2010 13:09:03 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=114977If you want city planners to learn how to handle the serious problems metropolises face, let them play games. IBM's CityOne is kind of like a SimCity for urban planners and city officials. The "serious game" sets up scenarios where players deal with situations]]>

If you want city planners to learn how to handle the serious problems metropolises face, let them play games. IBM’s CityOne is kind of like a SimCity for urban planners and city officials. The “serious game” sets up scenarios where players deal with situations like water waste, rising energy costs and a growing population. Through the virtual scenarios, developers hope urban officials will learn how to tackle issues as they relate to energy, water, banking and retail sectors.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/game-teaches-city-planners-to-tackle-water-energy-problems/feed/0IBM’s New Solar Desalination Tech Could Create Rivers in the Deserthttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-saudi-researchers-team-up-on-solar-powered-desalination-technology/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-saudi-researchers-team-up-on-solar-powered-desalination-technology/#commentsWed, 07 Apr 2010 18:45:50 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=102949Living in the desert comes with major advantages and disadvantages -- excess solar power and not enough water, to be more specific. Now IBM and Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are teaming up to solve the water problem with solar-powered]]>

Living in the desert comes with major advantages and disadvantages — excess solar power and not enough water, to be more specific. Now IBM and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are teaming up to solve the water problem with solar-powered desalination technology. Eventually, the two organizations hope to construct a desalination plant in Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia that can harness sunlight to generate 7.9 million gallons of water daily — enough for 100,000 people.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-saudi-researchers-team-up-on-solar-powered-desalination-technology/feed/4IBM Creates Plant-Based, Highly Recyclable Plasticshttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-plant-based-energy-saving-plastics/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-plant-based-energy-saving-plastics/#commentsWed, 10 Mar 2010 14:05:47 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=93160IBM researchers announced yesterday that they discovered a method of creating highly recyclable plastics from one of the most eco-friendly materials around - plants. Not only are the material's components greener than traditional petroleum-based products,]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-creates-plant-based-energy-saving-plastics/feed/0IBM Developing Chips That Carry Information Using Pulses of Lighthttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-developing-chips-that-carry-information-using-pulses-of-light/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-developing-chips-that-carry-information-using-pulses-of-light/#commentsThu, 04 Mar 2010 17:19:01 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=91616At the moment, electrical signals transfer information between computer chips using copper wires--a process that sucks up a lot of energy. But now researchers from IBM have developed a process that scraps the copper wires completely and instead uses pulses]]>

At the moment, electrical signals transfer information between computer chips using copper wires–a process that sucks up a lot of energy. But now researchers from IBM have developed a process that scraps the copper wires completely and instead uses pulses of light to communicate. The “nanophotonic avalanche photodetector” uses a whopping 20 times less energy than previous devices.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-developing-chips-that-carry-information-using-pulses-of-light/feed/2IBM Releases Cheaper, 40% More Efficient Thin-Film Solar Cellhttp://inhabitat.com/ibm-releases-cheaper-40-more-efficient-thin-film-solar-cell/
http://inhabitat.com/ibm-releases-cheaper-40-more-efficient-thin-film-solar-cell/#commentsThu, 11 Feb 2010 15:54:30 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=86474IBM has announced the development of a thin film solar cell with an efficiency of 9.6% - a whopping 40% increase from its previous prototypes. An efficiency of 9.6% isn't terribly impressive compared to the 18% previously achieved by NREL in the laboratory,]]>

IBM has announced the development of a thin film solar cell with an efficiency of 9.6% – a whopping 40% increase from its previous prototypes. An efficiency of 9.6% isn’t terribly impressive compared to the 18% previously achieved by NREL in the laboratory, but IBM’s thin film is a completely different type. What makes IBM’s thin film unique is that it is made up of cheaper and more common materials – not the expensive stuff traditionally used in making solar cells. IBM’s progress, which they claim as a record for this more affordable cell, could significantly bring down the cost of thin film solar power.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ibm-releases-cheaper-40-more-efficient-thin-film-solar-cell/feed/5New Process Turns Silicon Chips into Solar Panelshttp://inhabitat.com/new-process-turns-silicon-chip-wafers-into-solar-panels/
http://inhabitat.com/new-process-turns-silicon-chip-wafers-into-solar-panels/#commentsMon, 12 Nov 2007 17:05:27 +0000http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/11/12/new-process-turns-silicon-chip-wafers-into-solar-panels/There is plenty of waste in industrial processes, and the world of computer manufacturing is no exception. A prime example of this are the silicon wafers used as starting materials for the production of chips by the computing industry. Every year, roughly]]>

There is plenty of waste in industrial processes, and the world of computer manufacturing is no exception. A prime example of this are the silicon wafers used as starting materials for the production of chips by the computing industry. Every year, roughly 3.3 million silicon wafers are sent to landfills across the world to be crushed. Of course where some see waste, others see opportunity — such as IBM, who just announced a new process to turn these silicon wafers into solar panels.